Five
Chirp.
“You know, I think you’re right. She does like it.”
Chirp.
“No, not there.”
Chirp.
“I do not! I told you it was a big misunderstanding!”
“Oh gods...” I groaned, batting at the obstruction in my nose, my lashes fluttering open to Bitzy’s huge ears and eyes. Sitting in her bag, her ears were decorated with dried flowers that seem to have been glued on. “Please tell me I’m dreaming.”
“Fishy!” Opie pushed past his friend, his hands clapping excitedly.
Another groan fell from my lips. “Nope, this is real.”
Opie stood there in see-through gauze wrapped around himself like a bodysuit with strategically placed dried flowers and herbs covering his bits. His beard was braided with flowers, his feet in cotton balls. Leaves and twigs circled his head in a dramatic crown, and his lips and eyes were painted glittery green.
Pushing up, my murky brain registered I was in my room at Povstat, but it took me a moment for it to click in that my two friends were also here with me.
“Wait. How are you here? How did you find me?” I rubbed my face, heaviness sucking out my energy, making me groggy and slow. I couldn’t remember anything past being on the train. How did they get me back here? How long had I been out?
“We will always find you, Master Fishy. We are your family now,” Opie replied, his attention back on his outfit, twirling. “Do you like it?”
“It’s very . . . nature-y.”
“It took me the whole way here. Though seeing his face when we went through all his supplies... Wow. Didn’t think he could get so red.”
Chirp! Chirp!I swore it sounded like Bitzy giggled evilly, her two teeth showing.
“Whole way here? Who turned red?”
“But he was nothing in comparison to the other. He was one big crabby pants the whole way here. Scary with extra hot sauce.”
Chirp!Bitzy’s fingers went flying out, her forehead crinkling with annoyance.
“No, he was by far grouchier!”
Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!
My eyes went wide as she went off, her fingers flying about.
“You’re just mad because your mushrooms were taken away.” Opie placed his hands on his hips.
Mushrooms. Holy shit.
“Again, how did you get here?” I sat up straighter. If Opie and Bitzy found me...
Chirp-chirp.A strange smile pulled on Bitzy’s face, her three-prong fingers rolling up, her arms outstretched like she was holding on to handlebars.
“We rode on a vroom-vroom.” Opie picked at the flowers in his beard.
“You mean a motorcycle?” No, no way. Did he find me? We had a link, but I didn’t think he could track me down to the exact spot. “How did you find me?”
“I told you, Fishy, I will always be able to find you now.” He tapped his nose. “Smelled you out.”
